Busker Busker "Cherry Blossom Ending"

This song is almost a year old, but I don't care because I just discovered it and it's still charting. Busker Busker are an indie three piece signed to CJ E&M, a subset of MNET (who have acts like FT Island and T-ARA). They were runner ups on a K-Pop singing show back in 2011 and released two albums last year. "Cherry Blossom Ending", the title track to their first album was a hit, peaking at #1 on the GAON singles charts and it is back in the top ten, which makes this post kind of relevant. I really like the lighthearted atmosphere of the song and Jang Beom-Jun's struggle like falsetto during the chorus. In the video, the members go on a sunny journey across the countryside when they see a girl and a cherry blossom tree on TV.

Fall Out Boy "The Phoenix" Music Video

Fall Out Boy are keeping the tunes a coming, this time giving us a glimpse of what caused them to end up in the back of the van in the "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark" video with "The Phoenix". Not sure if this one is the next single (since MSKWYDITD is back in the top ten of iTunes and is finally getting decent airplay) or just promo for the record, but either way it is classic FOB with an edge ! Check the video below!

StooShe "Slip" Music Video

UK girl group StooShe have been on the ball with their music after "Black Heart" became a huge hit last year. The three ladies are back with more of their throwback sound with their single "Slip" which will be on their delayed debut album. Check it out below!

Graded Song: Lee Hi "Rose"

Lee Hi has yet to impress me with ANY of her material. She is a massive talent for such a young act, but YG doesn't seem to use her correctly (much like how JYP can't give Miss A decent songs and choreo). "1234" took months to grow on me and "It's Over" turned me off immediately. Now the 2nd part of her debut album "First Love" is going to be released and the lead track "Rose" gripped me with the teaser. Does she finally give us something to be excited about? Finally! The sound she was born to make! The R&B meets dance house vibe that the song really works well with Miss Hi's mature vocals. Who knew that she could rap so well either? The end kind of gets a bit dull at the end, but overall she killed it. This could work extremely well in a drama soundtrack. My favourite part of the song has to be the "Every rose has it's thorn" section and the chorus. Well done!

Final Grade:A

Jessie Ware "Imagine It Was Us"

Jessie Ware, the UK singer who topped my blog's best of 2012 album list, is preparing to re-release her debut album "Devotion" in the UK (and offically here in the States)in April and has debuted one of two brand spanking new tracks. Instead of the chill 80s Sade-meets-Whitney Houston that most of the album served up, Jessie moves up a decade and gives us a refreshing 90s house song with her signature stunning vocals holding their own with "Imagine It Was Us". I would definitely not mind if this is what her second album winds up sounding like.

Graded Song:Infinite "Man In Love" and MV

Only two short months after their subunit released their mini album, Infinite has made a full group comeback, complete with a more boy next door image and logo. After giving us teasers of the title track with each of the members, the full track and album "New Challenge" was released March 20th. After 2012's smash "The Chaser", does this new track do it any justice?
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Infinite did not disappoint this time around. The production was a bit reminiscent of "The Chaser", but it was more 80s inspired. Woohyun's vocals are really at the forefront this time and he hit that high note..BOY, I'm gonna need that solo mini from him soon!!!. Of the raps, I feel that Dongwoo's was a bit more stronger this time around, but it was still pretty decent. The chorus towards the end could have benefited from a bit more editing as the group was kind of overshadowed by the instrumental. They have yet to top "The Chaser," but this comes pretty damn close.
Final Grade:A-
In the music video, we see the group doing seperate things for the woman that they are pining for: learning how to play the piano, shopping, cooking, etc mixed in with some killer choreo. One of the moves reminded me of the ripple effect thing in Boyfriend's "Don't Touch My Girl" when they put their hands down doo-wop style. I need a dance MV to really zero in on the moves though.

Justin Timberlake "Mirrors" Music Video

Justin Timberlake has released the visuals for his #1 single "Mirrors". The video utilizes the full 8 minute ode to his other half, with part of it telling the story of a couple first meeting and living to old age and the other shows Mr.Timberlake dancing in front of mirrors with female background dancers. Do you like the video?

Beyonce "Bow Down/I've Been On"

New Bey! New Bey! New Bey! R&B queen Beyonce has been fairly quiet about new music and now she unexpectedly drops a track out of nowhere. The song (or songs) "Bow Down/I've Been On" are produced by Hit Boy ("Niggas In Paris", "Scream and Shout") where we hear Bey being pretty ratchet as all outdoors telling bitches (literally) to bow down, while "I've Been On" is a 2005 style chopped and screwed record where she talks about her hometown of Houston and does some serious boasting. This is interesting indeed, but I don't think will be the first single from her fifth studio album.

Iggy Azalea "Work" Music Video

Aussie raptress Iggy Azalea (not Azealia Banks) has released the music video for her single "Work". The song acts as the first official single from her upcoming debut, "The New Classic". Iggy keeps it trailer park trill while strutting in Christian Louboutin heels, riding on bikes, giving a rather convincing lap dance to a stranger and then riding off into the desert sun with said strangers old ride. It wouldn't be complete without her signature pony tail!!!

Graded Song: will.i.am "That Power" (Feat. Justin Bieber)

Will.i.am is finally racking up those solo hits that have eluded him. Following the massive success that "This is Love" gave him in Europe and "Scream and Shout" did worldwide (thanks mostly to Britney Spears' faux-British accent and iconic "It's Britney Bitch!" line). Now he's ready to move on and he has enlisted the likes of Canadian whiner singer Justin Bieber for the fourth single from his upcoming #willpower LP. Will you be rocking with will.i.am again or fleeing in pain from Bieber's lack of voice. Umm, what is happening? Justin Bieber's voice doesn't annoy the Hell out of me on a song? What is this witchcraft? The beat reminds me of vouguing music (not Madonna vogue, but the legit break your back, death drop, SHABLAM! voguing done in the underground.) It also has some hints of a Madeon production found during the chorus. Bieber's voice goes through a massive amount of processing and he isn't trying to hit a falsetto with his underdeveloped vocal cords, which may contribute to people actually liking the feature. Will does his robotic nonsensical one liner thing that he seems to stick to rather than actually rap like we know that he can (no surprise there). Just in time for summer too. I smell a hit!
Final Grade:B+

Girls Day "Expectation" Music Video

Girls Day come back with a majorly sexy comeback for their first full-length album, "Expectation". The album includes their past singles, including their breakout hit "Don't Forget Me" and the title track. They leave the cutesy behind this time and serve up some next level appeal with a suggestive suspender dance and darker clothing. Live shows be prepared...

Exclusive: Selena Gomez "Rule The World"

So I heard about this song, but I assumed that it wasn't real because all we had was a Last.Fm link. A leak of a Selena Gomez (sans The Scene) titled "Rule The World" has found its way online after we got wind of the title of her first official single from her fourth album. I hope this is from her current recording sessions and not from previous ones because I'm quite excited for the album now! "Rule The World" has all the good qualities of a decent charting pop song: a soaring chorus, a electro-dance driven backbeat and a dubstep-free breakdown. Give me the album now!

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AlunaGeorge "Attracting Flies" Music Video

AlunaGeorge put a modern spin on some well known fairy tales in their video for "Attracting Flies". Leading lady Aluna Francis takes the lead as Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, the Princess from the Princess and the Pea, Goldilocks and Sleeping Beauty while elements from other ones are thrown in. I'm hoping after the massive success they had with their feature on the Disclosure song, "White Noise" and this video, they can chart decently. Check it out below.

Porter Robinson & Mat Zo "Easy" Music Video

The visuals for EDM producers Mat Zo and Porter Robinson's joint single "Easy" are a sight to behold. The video shows a girl in futuristic Japan, who also seems to extremely famous, who decides to leave it all behind and enjoy nature: all in animated form. It reminded me of a 2D rendering of a Gorillaz video. Very beautiful indeed.

Graded Song: RaNia "Just Go"

Another K-Pop comeback coming at ya! This time it's from girl group RaNia. The group of five have been a pretty hit and miss bunch. The first single I heard from them "Pop Pop Pop" was decent and I loved the choreo in the video but it fell kinda flat in the originality category. Then they released "Style" late last year and it was the opposite: song was on point, while the choreo and some of the style in the video was a no go. They released a mini last week, with three new tracks, "Just Go" being one of them.
Song is darker than their previous material. A combination of Girls Generation's "Run Devil Run", Amelia Lily's "Shut and Give Me Whatever You Got" and the aforementioned "Style". However, it falls in the category of their song "Pop Pop Pop", it's good for one or two spins at random times, but nothing that I would want to hear over and over again. I was expecting something 10x as amazing as "Style" but I guess I'll have to wait until their next comeback
Final Grade:C

Natalia Kills "Problem"

Natalia Kills serves up the first single from her upcoming sophomore set, "Trouble". After teasing fans with the viral video for "Controversy" the artist formerly known as Verbz has shifted her usual dark dance pop stylings for some riot Grrrl, noise pop goodness. The lyrics are still typical of her though: bad girl going after a boy. This girl is a problem indeed.  

Amelia Lily "Party Over" Music Video

 Miss Amelia Lily shows how much abuse an iPhone can take in the music video for her soon-to-be smash, "Party Over". She drops in the sink, which causes a time lapse and takes her back to a major party complete with not so discreet product placement, gambling, and a furry for good measure. Not wanting the party to be over, she stamps on it and the party lasts forever, or at least I would like to think that.

Duke Dumont & A*M*E: Need U (100%) Music Video

DJ Duke Dumont released the visuals for his track "Need U (100%)" last week. The nu-disco infused song features up and coming singer A*M*E, who is one of the people I am looking at in 2013 for some musical greatness. The music video has a guy with a boombox in his stomach, which causes everyone around him to dance to the point where he can't go about his daily life. Dude, I know the feel. Check it out!

Graded Song:Amelia Lily "Party Over"

Amelia Lily, the third place runner-up in the 2011 cycle of the UK version of "The X-Factor" has been having a decent run since the show. She is prepping the release of the first studio album, have released two successful singles and is the opening act for Girls Aloud on their reunion tour (the power of Xenomania y'all). However, I haven't been too impressed by Miss Lily's output. She has an amazing voice, but she gave us a Miley Cyrus type vibe with "You Bring Me Joy" and she furthered that with "Shut Up and Give Me Whatever You Got". Now she's on single #3, "Party Over". Is she going to continue the faux-Hannah Montana act or finally showcase those powerhouse vocals?
So she finally deviates away from the Disney Channel star's vocals and gives us something to hair whip to. The drum and bass production is what makes the song stand out, as the lyrics are a bit on the side of Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack": childish and underdeveloped. This makes it easier for everyone to remember, especially the chorus with all of the "Ovas! Ovas!" Aside from that, it bangs better than her predecessors and something I would want to have on repeat at least 20xs at the gym.
Final Grade:C+ 
Also, she teased the video earlier today. I see Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" mixed with Ke$ha's "Tik Tok" sans the trashy makeup and attire.

Cover Drive "All My Love" Music Video

 Carribean by way of UK band Cover Drive have released the music video for their song, "All My Love." The summer-tinged single serves as the first from their upcoming sophomore album after last years "Bajan Style", which spawned the hits "Lick Ya Down", "Twilight", "Sparks" and "Explode". Each of the band members take on a different zany personae and travel around the island of Barbados spreading love then holding a giant party. I like a good change-up once in awhile. They've done the romantic thing with "Sparks" and "Twilight" so giving it a break is nice.